1. A method of treating tinnitus comprising:
determining the patient’s tinnitus frequency;
programming a clinical controller with information based on the determined tinnitus frequency;
selecting a plurality of therapeutic tones, where the therapeutic tones are selected to be at least a half-octave above or below the determined patient’s tinnitus frequency;
setting an appropriate volume for each of the selected plurality of tones;
repetitively playing each of the selected plurality of therapeutic tones; and
pairing a vagus nerve stimulation pulse train with each playing, thereby reducing the patient’s perception of tinnitus.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein respective trains are paired with respective tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones, thereby reducing the patient’s perception of tinnitus.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein respective tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are respectively at one discrete tone.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some respective tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are respectively at two or more different tones.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some respective tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are at different tones.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some respective tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are respectively single frequency tones.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented using a tone generator that respectively operates as a tone generator when generating at least some respective tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are at one discrete tone.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are at the same frequency.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein:
respective therapeutic tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are outside the range of the patient’s tinnitus frequency.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
selecting at least one tone corresponding to non-tinnitus frequency tones, wherein the selected at least one tone corresponds to at least one of the plurality of therapeutic tones exposed to the patient.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the action of playing each of the plurality of therapeutic tones includes:
exposing the patient to a respective tone at a volume different from that of another respective tone.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are played at the same volume.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones are played at one or more volumes effective to reduce the patient’s perception of tinnitus.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining the patient’s hearing loss.
16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
setting respective volumes for respective tones of the plurality of therapeutic tones exposed to the patient, wherein the respective tones exposed to the patient are exposed at the respective set volumes.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system to administer a liquid agent into a body cavity of a patient for use with a vacuum source, said system comprising:
an elongate member having a lumen disposed into the body cavity of the patient;
a valve assembly comprising:
a body portion,
a first port and a second port, said first port coupled to said lumen,
a first passage coupled between said first port and said second port,
a second passage coupled to said first passage, said second passage substantially orthogonal to said first passage,
a poppet laterally slideably disposed within said second passage, said poppet having a substantially \u201cL\u201d shaped passage from an end surface to a sidewall of said poppet; and
a pump assembly coupled to said valve assembly in a fluid tight relationship, said pump assembly adapted for receiving the liquid agent,
wherein said pump assembly provides the liquid to said lumen through said first port of said valve assembly, and automatically permits at least the liquid to be extracted through said lumen and flows out of said valve assembly through said second port.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said valve assembly further comprises:
a resilient member coupled between a portion of said poppet and an end portion of said valve, said resilient member exerting a lateral force on said poppet; and
a projection disposed at a lower surface of said first passage.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first port is a bidirectional port and said second port is a unidirectional port, a flow from said second port exiting said valve.
4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a receptacle having an inlet port coupled to said second port of said valve assembly and an outlet port coupled to said vacuum source, said receptacle receiving at least the fluid from said second port in response to a pressure differential created by the vacuum source.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said pump assembly is a positive displacement pump, a syringe pump or a resilient vessel.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said pump assembly is under manual control.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said pump assembly is under automatic control.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is programmable.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid agent is at least one of water, saline, saline in combination with an antibiotic, a solution containing silver ions, a surfactant, an enzyme dissolving liquids, andor mouthwash.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said aspiration port is disposed adjacent a glottis of the patient.
11. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of secretions generated by the patient are extracted with said fluid through said aspiration port.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said flow through said lumen is responsive to a natural flow from the patient andor responsive to a vacuum from a vacuum source.
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said body cavity is at least one of a substantially closed surgical site, a gastric cavity, a pulmonary cavity, andor a urinary tract.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the patient is a human or an animal.
15. The system according to claim 2, wherein said projection is adapted to provide a predetermined spaced relationship between a bottom portion of said poppet and a lower surface of said second passage to prevent said poppet from sealing against said lower surface.
16. A system to administer a liquid agent into a body cavity of a patient for use with a vacuum source, said system comprising:
an elongate member having a lumen disposed into the body cavity of the patient;
a valve assembly comprising a body portion, a first port and a second port, said first port coupled to said lumen; and
a pump assembly coupled to said valve assembly in a fluid tight relationship, said pump assembly adapted for receiving the liquid agent,
wherein said pump assembly provides the liquid to said lumen through said first port of said valve assembly, and permits at least the liquid to be extracted through said lumen and flows out of said valve assembly through said second port, and
wherein said poppet is disposed within said valve assembly such that said poppet communicates the liquid from said pump assembly into said first port of said valve assembly, said poppet moving from a first position to a second position under a force from said pump assembly.